Man who loves feet is creeping out dozens of Arizona real estate agents

There is a man in the greater Phoenix, Arizona area who is targeting female real estate agents with questions about their feet. These female real estate agents are not happy about it, but as KPHO CBS 5 AZ reports, there isn’t much they can do about it other than warn each other.

(KPHO)

KPHO spoke with DPR Realty agent Hope Salas. Ms. Salas says she was contacted by a prospective home buyer via text. The man, who identified himself as Anthony, said he had just moved to Arizona from New York four months ago, and that he worked in reflexology. Reflexology, though it does have itsupporters, is an alternative form of medicine that appears to be little more than, “a form of foot massage,” according to Quackwatch.

(KPHO)

“Anthony” quickly steered the conversation away from homes and started talking feet, asking Ms. Salas if she wore heels often. Another realtor, Lacey Washburn of Realty One Group, told KPHO about her interaction with the foot fetishist, saying, “He asked me if I ever had reflexology done before, which I didn't answer that question. And then he asked me if I liked having foot massages or foot rubs, which I didn't answer that question either."

(KPHO)

KPHO reports that a “number of realtors” have reported the man to police, but because “Anthony” hasn’t actually broken any laws, there isn’t much that can be done. In the meantime, agents are warning each other via their Facebook group and are staying on high alert. The station tried speaking with the man, but only got his voicemail.

More info: KPHO

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Arizona man accused of a cruelty to rats

BLACK CANYON CITY, Ariz. (AP) — A man is accused of animal cruelty after hundreds of domesticated rats have been found dead or dying in a north-central Arizona travel trailer.

Yavapai County Sheriff's officials say 28-year-old Jeffrey Wendorff was arrested Monday on suspicion of cruel mistreatment of animals and neglect/abandonment of animals.

County Health Services officials say they got a call about numerous rats around a trailer in Black Canyon City.

Sheriff's deputies and county animal control officers say there were between 300 to 500 rats in pens at the front and back of the trailer and the odor was overwhelming.

Inside the trailer, authorities found several aquariums with newborn and adult rats.

Wendorff told authorities he had stopped caring for the rats recently, but had been in a business partnership to breed and sell rats.

Society & CultureCrime & Justiceanimal cruelty

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Arizona Home Loans and Foreclosures Info

by SMU Central University Libraries

Arizona Home Loans and Foreclosures Info

Across the country and perhaps especially in State of Arizona, foreclosures have been in the news recently, most especially because of President Obama’s recent visit there and news about his plans to spend $ 75 billion tackling foreclosures across the country. President Obama also visited Dobson High School in Arizona recently.

Other foreclosure news in Arizona

Unfortunately, folks seeking to circumvent foreclosure in Arizona have also been hit by predators. In fact, Arizona’s Attorney General Terry Goddard has filed a lawsuit against a so-called “foreclosure rescue operation” that really wasn’t. In fact, this organization has defrauded about 400 Arizona homeowners of their homes. Therefore, this is something that folks in danger of foreclosure have to keep aware of.

Can some foreclosures be “good” news?

Of course, foreclosures can’t be good news for the homeowners who are losing their homes, but they can be good news if you’re in the market for home and are actually looking to save some money. Many of these homes are sold at auction, or have been taken back by lenders now looking to sell them at reduced prices. Take a look at real estate sites with listed housing; in some cases, you may even be able to offer 10% or so below the asking price and still get the house you want.

Some things to look out for

If you’re looking to purchase a home in Arizona or anywhere else, it’s a good idea to have your own privately hired home inspector take a look at a house you are considering buying. Real estate professionals will offer you options like this, too, but it’s a good idea to have your own independent inspector because you’re sure to find out before you buy what difficulties the home may have.

This is especially true for foreclosed homes, which may have been sitting empty for a while and therefore may have “disuse” problems like leaky roofs or pipes, or that may even have been sabotaged by previous owners forced to leave; in some cases, previous owners can do things like pour cement down toilets, so that you don’t see a problem when you move into the home, but honestly you’ve got a very expensive problem on your hands once you’ve lived there and know that it exists. Hiring your own housing inspector can help you avoid any of these types of problems.

Getting a home loan in Arizona

Regardless of whom you work with, bona fide lenders who work aboveboard are also usually going to require that you have very good credit, guaranteed income, and a down payment for your home. This is a significant change from the “zero down” mortgages done by subprime lenders to homeowners who probably should not have qualified for a home in the first place. To qualify for the best loans, your FICO score should be at least 620, if not better. Your credit history should also show that you pay your bills on time and your down payment is usually going to need to be at least 20% of the purchase price of your home.

This is a significant change from the recent rules we’ve become used to, but these rules actually hearken back to the “good old days” when every mortgage lender checked out potential homeowners very, very carefully.

Where to go for more information

If you truly are in the market for a home and you have the resources available to buy one, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development or Arizona Mortgage Lenders Association are good places to start. These sources can help you work your way through the maze that buying a home can often be.

And whatever lender you go to just make sure they stand behind their word,  and you can be guaranteed that the lender you’ll be working with will truly be above board and have your best interests at heart.

To learn valuable and easy to understand information about foreclosures visit the Thehomemortgagewebsite.com You’ll find information about home mortgages loans and other related topics.

Arizona Home Loans and Foreclosures Info

Arizona nonagenarian sets weightlifting world record

By David Schwartz

PHOENIX (Reuters) - A barrel-chested 91-year-old strongman from Arizona shattered the world record for the bench press in his dwindling age group, with a lift of 187.2 pounds - some 50 pounds more than the previous record.

Sy Perlis bested the record of 135 pounds set in 2005 during a national competition last weekend in Phoenix as the lone participant in the 90-year-old and over division, competition officials said.

"He's pretty amazing, there's no doubt about it," said Gus Rethwisch, president of the World Association of Benchers and Deadlifters, who witnessed Perlis' record lift. "He looks like he could be in his 70s. He's in great shape."

Perlis, who won world titles in 2010 and 2011 in the 85-year-old to 89-year-old division, told the Arizona Republic newspaper that he started hitting the weights when he was 60 years old. He did not enter a championship competition until five years ago at the suggestion of his trainer.

"It gave me the opportunity to do something to test myself for one thing, and I didn't have to run around to do it as you would in some other sports," Perlis told the newspaper.

"I got a lot of satisfaction out of it and it made me feel good and it was good for me."

Perlis said he trains five days a week with a regimen that includes weightlifting and cardiovascular work.

Perlis told the newspaper that his doctor is aware of his competitive pursuits, and has said, "If you can do it, do it."

Rethwisch said the record lift qualified Perlis for the world championships on November 5 in Reno, Nevada. Perlis has told tournament organizers he will compete.

(Reporting by Tim Gaynor; Editing by Bill Trott)

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